Roofing in Manor, Pennsylvania

Required

The 2021 International Residential Code, as adopted by the State in the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code (UCC). 34 Pa. Code 403.21(a)(7) adopts "The 'International Residential Code of 2021,' except that:" followed by the State's list of exclusions and modifications, effective January 1, 2026 (55 Pa.B. 7701). None of the State's changes touches Chapter 9, Roof Assemblies, or Section R803, Roof Sheathing, so those apply as the International Code Council publishes them. Work on existing buildings is also pointed to the State's existing-building code: "The repair, alteration, change of occupancy, addition and relocation of existing buildings must comply with Chapter 34 of the 'International Building Code of 2021' or with the 'International Existing Building Code of 2021'" (34 Pa. Code 403.21(f)). The UCC is the minimum everywhere in the state: "no municipality may propose or enact any ordinance which is less than the minimum requirement of the Uniform Construction Code" (Pennsylvania Construction Code Act, Act 45 of 1999, section 503(b)). The Act also lists work it "shall not apply to", including "Alterations to residential buildings which do not make structural changes or changes to means of egress" or to "Repairs to residential buildings," in each case "except as might be required by ordinances" kept in force under section 303(b)(1) or adopted under section 503 (Act 45 section 104(b)(5) and (6); 34 Pa. Code 403.1(b)(8) and (9)). The Act defines a repair as "The reconstruction or renewal of any part of an existing building for the purpose of its maintenance." So whether the code's roofing rules reach a given house reroof depends on the municipality's own ordinances. Everything above is Pennsylvania state law, the same in every municipality. Locally, Manor Borough in Westmoreland County posts a building permit packet from its "Building / Zoning Department," which says "If you have any questions please contact the Building Inspector at 724-523-5940" and "No work is permitted until your permit is released under the Statewide Uniform Construction Codes." The Borough's Code, Chapter 5, Part 1 (Ord. 488 of 2004), adopts the Uniform Construction Code as the Borough of Manor Building Code and provides for its administration by agreement with the Central Westmoreland Council of Governments. Its revisions insert the Borough's design criteria in the residential code's Table R301.2(1), including "Ice Shield Underlayment: Yes." Section 5-101 lists the "International Residential Code 2003" (First Printing) among the codes the Uniform Construction Code consists of, and the Borough's pages name no edition; this record has not read the 2003 edition's text and does not decide which edition the Borough applies.

Manor Borough's pages and Code read for this record do not say whether a house reroof needs a permit. Chapter 5, Part 1 adopts the Uniform Construction Code by reference, "as amended and supplemented from time to time," adds no permit clause for house repairs, names no roof work and lists no exemptions; its fee section leaves fees to Council resolution. No Borough section naming roof work as permit work was found in the Code's search for "roof" and "reroofing." The Borough's "General Permit Requirements" sheet says "The following activities may require a Building, Zoning, Access Drive, Street Opening/Right of Way, Sidewalk or Stormwater Management permit" and lists eleven items, from "Residential or Commercial building construction" and "Installation or replacement of walls" to driveways; none names roofing, reroofing or roof replacement. The building permit packet names no roof work as permit work; its only roof words ask new-construction drawings to "Show the size of roof framing members, spacing and roof sheathing materials." No Borough fee resolution for building permits was found on the Borough's website. Under state law, Act 45 section 104(b)(5) and (6) list "Alterations to residential buildings which do not make structural changes or changes to means of egress" and "Repairs to residential buildings" among work the Act does not apply to, "except as might be required by ordinances in effect pursuant to section 303(b)(1) or adopted pursuant to section 503," and 34 Pa. Code 403.62(c) says "A permit is not required for the exceptions listed in § 403.1(b) (relating to scope) and the following, if the work does not violate a law or ordinance." This record does not state whether the Borough requires a permit for a house reroof; ask the Building Inspector (724-523-5940) or the Borough office (724-864-2422) before starting. Read for this answer: the Borough's Code, Chapter 5 (Code Enforcement), in full, and the Code's search results for "roof" and "reroofing"; the Borough's Building and Zoning Permit Applications page, its General Permit Requirements sheet and its building permit packet.